Things to do in Portugal in 15 days

Would you like to visit Portugal? Do you want to find out what Portugal has to offer in 15 days?

Great! In this article you’ll find a 15-day travel guide to discover the tourist attractions and all the things you can do in Portugal.

Here is the travel guide to visit Portugal in 15 days

Day 1

Begin your visit in the beautiful Portuguese capital. Lisbon is the biggest city in Portugal and is in the top of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. The seven hills city has won the hearts of visitors from all over the world through a sumptuous fusion of tradition and modernity.

On this first day, visit the downtown neighbourhoods and Bairro Alto. You will have the opportunity to see:

Praça Dom Pedro IV (Rossio Square)

Elevador de Santa Justa (Santa Justa Elevator)

Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square)

If you have the time, visit Cristo Rei (Monument to Christ), a beautiful place to contemplate Lisbon, Tagus river and 25 April Bridge.

Day 2

Come and explore the historic neighbourhood of Alfama – the soul of Lisbon is here. Lose yourself in the steep streets and discover:

Miradouro da Graça (Graça Viewpoint)

Castelo de São Jorge (Saint George Castle)

Miradouro de Santa Luzia (Santa Luzia Viewpoint)

Sé de Lisboa (Lisbon’s Cathedral)

Day 3

To complete your visit of Lisbon, go to Belém, where you can find monuments from the age of discovery, and visit:

Torre de Belém (Tower of Belém)

Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries)

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Hieronymites Monastery)

Casa Pasteis de Belém

If you have the time, visit Lisbon Oceanarium located in the Park of the Nations.

Day 4

Take the train in Rossio trainstation and visit the beautiful city of Sintra to discover:

Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle)

Palácio Nacional da Pena (Pena National Palace)

Palácio Nacional de Sintra (Sintra National Palace)

Quinta da Regaleira

Day 5

Day 5 will be dedicated to the dicovery of Évora, considered as the museum city. Take the train IC in Oriente trainstation that will take you to the center of the city in 1h40m.

During your visit you can’t miss:

Praça do Giraldo (Giraldo Square)

Templo de Diana (Temple of Diana)

Igreja de São Francisco (St. Francis Church)

Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones)

Sé de Évora (Évora Cathedral)

Day 6

From day 6 on I suggest you rent a car to travel more freely and have more time for your visits. Despite being a small country, there are so many places to visit in Portugal that you’ll definitely need a car.

Travel north and stop to discover the medieval town of Óbidos.

You can visit the town in a morning; take the afternoon to visit Alcobaça Monastery and end your day in Nazaré.

Nazaré is known worldwide for surf and its 30 metre-high waves. Visit the part of town located at sea level and than take the elevator to discover the rest of the town, located at 118 metres above sea level.

If you visit Nazaré in the summer, you will have the chance (for those who like it) to watch bullfighting in the bullring.

Day 7

After sleeping in Nazaré, go north and make a stop at Batalha to visit Batalha Monastery though its official name is Santa Maria da Vitória Convent.

In the afternoon I invite you to visit the biggest shrine in Portugal which is the fourth biggest catholic shrine in the world, the Our Lady of Fátima Shrine.

It was here that Virgin Mary supposedly showed up to three children in Fátima, a small village in the center of Portugal, on six different occasions during the year of 1917. To know the story of this place I urge you to read this article in Wikipedia.

Day 8

I invite you to discover the beautiful city of Coimbra as your last stop in the center of Portugal. During your stay you shouldn’t miss:

Igreja de Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Church)

Arco e Torre de Almedina (Arch and Tower of Almedina)

Sé Velha (Old Cathedral)

University of Coimbra

Biblioteca Joanina (Joanina Library), located inside the university

Day 9

After staying in Coimbra for the night, visit Lamego to discover Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Our Lady of Remedies Shrine), the medieval castle and the Sé (Cathedral).

Near Peso da Régua you’ll find Douro valley and its Port wine vineyards. If you have the time, go to the magnificent viewpoint of São Leonardo de Galafura for a spectacular view over Douro.

Day 10

Begin your day with a visit to the viewpoint of São Leonardo de Galafura if you haven’t had the time the day before.

After that, take the national road to Amarante and enjoy the beauty of the Douro. In Amarante visit:

Convento e Igreja de São Gonçalo (São Gonçalo Convent and Church)

Ponte de São Gonçalo (São Gonçalo Bridge)

Day 11

Today you will visit the birthplace of Portugal and the Portuguese Rome. Begin with Guimarães and visit:

Castelo de Guimarães (Guimarães Castle)

Capela de São Miguel do Castelo (Saint Michael of the Castle Chapel)

Paço dos Duques de Bragança (Palace of the Dukes of Braganza)

Rua de Santa Maria (Saint Mary Street)

Praça de Santiago (Santiago Square)

Largo da Oliveira (Oliveira Square)

After having lunch in the historic centre of Guimarães, go to Braga, one of the oldest catholic cities in the world. You should visit:

Jardim de Santa Barbara (Saint Barbara Garden)

Torre de Menagem (Donjon)

Arco da Porta Nova (Arch of the New Gate)

Arcada da Lapa (Arcade of Lapa)

Sé de Braga (Braga’s Cathedral)

Santuário do Bom Jesus do Monte (Bom Jesus do Monte Shrine)

Day 12

On this twelfth day you will discover the only Portuguese national park, Peneda-Gerês National Park. This is one of the most beautiful places in Portugal where authenticity takes place. Here are some of the places you shouldn’t miss:

Soajo

Lindoso

Gerês Village

Miradouro de Pedra Bela (Pedra Bela Viewpoint)

Cascata de Tahiti (Tahiti Waterfall)

Cascata do Arado (Arado Waterfall)

Your day should end in Ponte de Lima, a charming medieval village that will make you forget the 21st century.

Day 13

30 km from Ponte de Lima you will find Viana do Castelo, a city known for its Santa Luzia Basilica, its view over the river, the sea and the city centre.

Once you have visited the basilica and the historic center, travel south to Porto. You can make the trip without any stops or stop in one of the many beaches along the way.

Day 14

If you haven’t done it yet, return the rental car (or park your car) and explore the historic centre of Porto on foot or on public transportation. These are the places you can’t miss:

There are so many things to do in Portugal and many places to visit so I hope this travel guide has helped you plan your trip to this marvelous country.

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About Tiago

Tiago, 27 years old, Parisian since 12, I decided to go on an adventure and make my dream come true: get to know our country from one end to the other. I believe that if we don’t know our origins we don’t truly know ourselves. Read more here